Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-11-26
Among the 4Gotton-Mouths."

Among the Cotton Mouths"
From the Youths Companion.
Shortly after the great crevasses
we're made on the Mississippi by the
flood of 1879, the authorities sent
out party to investigate the dam.
age done by a creyasse Just above
New Orleans, and to see il there was
any possibility either of closing it, or
of finding some less harmless outlet
for the waters. There were two young
civil engineers from the West, stran-
gers in the country, but Colonel Carl
ton. who was the leader of the party,
had had many years experiencein the
work, and knew every loot OF ground
for fifty miles above and below the
city.
The currents and eddies of the tur-
bulent river, which at will throws
down its clay barriers like wisps OF
straw, were familiar to him, but this
new crevasse was on part of-the
horse that he had not often visited.
The party engaged a light skiff, and,
to assist in rowing, an old negro man,
who had been brought up on the
"Maringonim" place, where the
crevasse had been made. More help
would have been desirable in rowing
up this strong current, but large
boat is clumsy. and useless for the
trip proposed, and Dave, a stout,
powerful old negro, was host in
himself.
"He can find the way. bllndiold,
over every part of Maringonin planta-
tion," Colonel Carlton said TO his
companions. 'To be sure, it's all
under water now, but Dave can steer
us clear OF the submerged trees and
fences"
Knows ebry bush on it, Marse
Curnel. dere's a mighty bad hedge on
the MORT side, list hid by de water,
but old Dave amt gwine to Craze it.
How long you gwine to prospect
round, Marse Curnel?"
Long enough to find out what I've
come for, il it takes me week." the
colonel answered.
The old negro shook his head.
mighty onsartin, prospcctin' ,
Marse Curnel. You don't calkiate ter
run in the mouf oh de crevasse, and it
sweepin' like mill-dam, does
your
.4Of course not" laughed colonel.
NV business is where the crevasse
goes out, not where it comes in.
There's a bayou which runs to the
back OF the plantation, and there's
where want you to take us. don
know much about il"
mo, sar, you doesn't know not in
bout Maringonin swamp and bayou,
Dave uttered with emphasis, land
YOU won't want to know 'em better,
when you gifts 'quainted like.
"What on earth does the old fellow
mean?" George Ellis asked ofColonel
/ Carlton.
"Oh, nothing. lie wants to enhances
his own Importance as a guide to @
terra incognita. So you're trying tc
give us a scare, Dave. Now that's
\ not kind. These gentlemen are stran
ers, Won know, and they might swal
| low your yarns. You must remember
I'm not to be scared by owls or aliiga
tors"
"Marse Curnel, is you cher been dal
| in high waterg" Dave asked. solemnly
"Well, no, not exactly; but il TIN
waters over every thing, we'll JUS
have to stay in the boat, that's all
Well get through bv evening, and yoI
! won't Starve il we can't land. There'l
plenty of provisions, already cooked
in that basket"
Good whiskey, too, ehS" with al
eager look.
ssYou old sinner" laughed the col
onel, did YOU think was going tx
bring your besetting sin, and put i
down at your very door? No, no
Dave! MY friends and drink moth
ing that takes away our senses, ant
my conscience wouldn't let me brin
whiskey for YOU"
To say Dawes face expressed tn
utmost chagrin would be n mild wa.
OF describing his change of counte
nance. He almost dropped the oars
and hall rose from his seat.
Look heah, Marse Curuel!" he cried
"you don't say you'se SIGH a"-he wa
/ going 10 say iooif buh thssSNS0 hiaAaSS
in time ''you DOM say you'se con,
ed to Maringonin bayou and SWAMP
de cotton mouf country, wldQut whis
key. An old Niger amt wurf muct
but ] tell you Ell had knowed yo
) was swine to do SIGH an obfustics
ton, you mought hab found som,
body TO row you side ole Dave. Let
put back"
Are you crazy, old MANI Go, OF
tor we are wasting the morning. W
must 20 back to the city by dark.
The habit otcbedience was so stron
In the olds man that he bent to hi
work, muttering to himself at inte
walls, something about ''cotton.nn us
and "whiskey."
"What are cotton.mouthss" ..ske
; one OF the strangers.
"A species OF moccasin snake wit
white laws" Col. Carlton answered
: briefly.
abe venomonsest Of all snakes,
9 Dave interrupted "Et dey bites yol
e and whiskey amt dar, good-by t
: YOU; your mudder won't nebber 50
! you aRin, massa.
: "Don' mind the old croaker, Co
. onel Carlton laughed. The cotton
e mouth Is very venomous TO be sure
but I've never seen many OF them u
my life, and doubt II we meet ON